ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTION. Neuropsychologic Status in Multiple Sclerosis After Treatment With Glatiramer

Similar documents
Cognitive patterns and progression in multiple sclerosis: construction and validation of percentile curves

ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTION. Genetic Polymorphisms in Parkinson Disease Subjects With and Without Hallucinations

Adaptational Approach to Cognitive Rehabilitation in Multiple Sclerosis: Description of Three Models of Care

Plenary Session 2 Psychometric Assessment. Ralph H B Benedict, PhD, ABPP-CN Professor of Neurology and Psychiatry SUNY Buffalo

Impairments in cognitive abilities are among the. Promising New Approaches to Assess Cognitive Functioning in People with Multiple Sclerosis

A randomised, placebo-controlled trial investigating the role of Fampridine in cognitive performance of patients with multiple sclerosis.

Clinically isolated lesions of the type seen in multiple sclerosis: a cognitive, psychiatric, and

Prevalence of Cognitive Impairment in Newly Diagnosed Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Cognitive Impairment and Magnetic Resonance Changes in Multiple Sclerosis. Background

Regional MRI lesion burden and cognitive function in MS: A longitudinal study

Visual perception and hand function in persons with multiple sclerosis

C ognitive problems are common in patients with

Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms Are Associated With Worse Performance on Objective Cognitive Tests in MS

MR Lesion Load and Cognitive Function in Patients with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Trail making test A 2,3. Memory Logical memory Story A delayed recall 4,5. Rey auditory verbal learning test (RAVLT) 2,6

The Use of Brief Assessment Batteries in Multiple Sclerosis. History of Cognitive Studies in MS

Assessment of Memory

Rapidly-administered short forms of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale 3rd edition

Examining the Link between Information Processing Speed and Executive Functioning in Multiple Sclerosis

THE NEUROPSYCHOLOGY OF POST-POLIO FATIGUE. Richard L. Bruno, Thomas Galski, John DeLuca.

Cognitive Impairment Among Patients with Multiple Sclerosis. Associations with Employment and Quality of Life.

Executive function in multiple sclerosis The role of frontal lobe pathology

ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTION. Multiple Sclerosis That Is Progressive From the Time of Onset

Cognitive impairment is a prevalent concern in. Longitudinal Stability of Cognition in Early-Phase Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis : how cognitive performance relates to quality of life, depression, and perception of deficits

Serial 7s and Alphabet Backwards as Brief Measures of Information Processing Speed

MRI dynamics of brain and spinal cord in progressive multiple sclerosis

Test Assessment Description Ref. Global Deterioration Rating Scale Dementia severity Rating scale of dementia stages (2) (4) delayed recognition

Treatment of AD with Stabilized Oral NADH: Preliminary Findings

Committee Approval Date: December 12, 2014 Next Review Date: December 2015

Process of a neuropsychological assessment

CRITICALLY APPRAISED PAPER

Table 1: Summary of measures of cognitive fatigability operationalised in existing research.

CSF Aβ1-42 predicts cognitive impairment in de novo PD patients

A longitudinal study of cognition in primary progressive multiple sclerosis

WPE. WebPsychEmpiricist

Medication Policy Manual. Topic: Aubagio, teriflunomide Date of Origin: November 9, 2012

COGNITIVE AND BRAIN CHANGES IN MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

Changing EDSS progression in placebo cohorts in relapsing MS:

Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Statistical Association, August 5-9, 2001

Global N-acetyl aspartate correlates with. cognitive dysfunction in multiple sclerosis

Most patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience a

Long-term results of the first line DMT depend on the presence of minimal MS activity during first years of therapy: data of 15 years observation

Medscape: What do you see as the main clinical implications of your results?

Measurement and Classification of Neurocognitive Disability in HIV/AIDS Robert K. Heaton Ph.D University of California San Diego Ancient History

Nature, prevalence and clinical significance. Barcelona, Spain

The Effects of Daclizumab High Yield Process (DAC HYP) on Patient Centered Functional Outcomes: Results From the DECIDE Study

Using contextual analysis to investigate the nature of spatial memory

Carmen Inoa Vazquez, Ph.D., ABPP Clinical Professor NYU School of Medicine Lead Litigation Conference Philadelphia May 19, 2009 Presentation

Neuropsychological Testing (NPT)

Quality of life in multiple sclerosis: Does information-processing speed have an independent effect?

Research Article Assessment of Early Cognitive Impairment in Patients with Clinically Isolated Syndromes and Multiple Sclerosis

The New England Journal of Medicine A POPULATION-BASED STUDY OF SEIZURES AFTER TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES

Everyday Problem Solving and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living: Support for Domain Specificity

Investor Update. Basel, 23 April 2018

Research Article Cognitive Impairment in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Patients with Very Mild Clinical Disability

MEDIA BACKGROUNDER. Multiple Sclerosis: A serious and unpredictable neurological disease

Neuropsychological Test Development and Normative Data on Hispanics

Concurrent validity of WAIS-III short forms in a geriatric sample with suspected dementia: Verbal, performance and full scale IQ scores

Confusional state. Digit Span. Mini Mental State Examination MMSE. confusional state MRI

A longitudinal study of cognitive changes in MS dimensionality, predictors and selfperception

NICE appraisal consultation document for teriflunomide [ID548]

Innovazione e personalizzazione nella terapia della SM. Rocco Totaro Centro per la Diagnosi e Cura delle Malattie Demielinizzanti L Aquila

ORIGINAL ARTICLE EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY. Introduction

Traumatic Brain Injury for VR Counselors Margaret A. Struchen, Ph.D. and Laura M. Ritter, Ph.D., M.P.H.

Running head: CPPS REVIEW 1

Cognitive rehabilitation: assessment. Dawn Langdon PhD

Interpreting change on the WAIS-III/WMS-III in clinical samples

Reach2HD Phase 2 Clinical Trial Top Line Results. Investor Conference Call 19 th February 2014

Physostigmme in Alzheimer s Disease

THE CLINICAL course of severe

Current Enrolling Clinical Trials

A cost utility model of interferon beta-1b in the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis Phillips C J, Gilmour L, Gale R, Palmer M

Novartis real-world data at AAN confirms benefit of Gilenya on four key measures of disease activity in relapsing MS

Research Article Impact of Depression, Fatigue, and Global Measure of Cortical Volume on Cognitive Impairment in Multiple Sclerosis

Management of the Acutely Agitated Long Term Care Patient

Detecting neurocognitive impairment in HIV-infected youth: Are we focusing on the wrong factors?

APPENDIX A TASK DEVELOPMENT AND NORMATIVE DATA

Clinical Study Assessment of Definitions of Sustained Disease Progression in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Chapter Two Incidence & prevalence

Research Article Does Fatigue Complaint Reflect Memory Impairment in Multiple Sclerosis?

AFFIRM IN FOCUS AN INTERACTIVE OVERVIEW START HERE

Clarence Liu, Lance D Blumhardt. in trial disability in patients with multiple sclerosis with fluctuating and highly heterogeneous

Empire BlueCross BlueShield Professional Commercial Reimbursement Policy

Longitudinal Assessment of Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQL) of Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

International Forum on HIV and Rehabilitation Research

21/05/2018. Today s webinar will answer. Presented by: Valorie O Keefe Consultant Psychologist

INFORMATION PROCESSING IN MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS: ACCURACY VERSUS SPEED. Katherine A. Steiger

Prognosis: What happens in Transient Epileptic Amnesia: over TIME? Dr Sharon Savage

Everyday cognition in temporal lobe and frontal lobe epilepsy

Updates to the Alberta Human Services Drug Benefit Supplement

Medical Policy An Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association

Clinical trials of multiple sclerosis monitored with enhanced MRI: new sample size calculations based on large data sets

Quality of life defined

Guideline for the use of beta-interferons in patients with multiple sclerosis a South African proposal

Cognitive screening tools in multiple sclerosis revisited: sensitivity and specificity of a short version of Rao s Brief Repeatable Battery

Author's response to reviews

Psychosis and Agitation in Dementia

Dr. Prasanth Varghese C. Resident in Neurology. Month and Year of Submission: October 2013

Chapter 8: Visual Imagery & Spatial Cognition

Transcription:

ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTION Neuropsychologic Status in Multiple Sclerosis After Treatment With Glatiramer Amy Weinstein, PhD; Steven I. L. Schwid, MD; Randolph B. Schiffer, MD; Michael P. McDermott, PhD; Daniel W. Giang, MD; Andrew D. Goodman, MD Background: Glatiramer acetate (Copaxone) therapy reduces clinical disease activity in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). Objective: To study the effect of glatiramer therapy on neuropsychologic function as part of a randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial. Methods: Two hundred forty-eight patients with relapsing-remitting MS and mild to moderate disability (Expanded Disability Status Scale score, 5.0) were tested before and 12 and 24 months after randomization to administration of glatiramer acetate, 20 mg/d, or matching placebo. Neuropsychologic tests examined 5 cognitive domains most often disrupted in patients with MS: sustained attention, perceptual processing, verbal and visuospatial memory, and semantic retrieval. Results: Baseline neuropsychologic test performance was similar in both treatment groups and was within normal range, except for impaired semantic retrieval. Mean neuropsychologic test scores were higher at 12 and 24 months than at baseline, and no differences were detected between treatment groups over time. No significant interactions were detected between treatment and either time or baseline impairment. Conclusions: Our 2-year longitudinal study showed no effect of glatiramer therapy on cognitive function in relapsing-remitting MS. Although it is possible that glatiramer therapy has no effect on cognitive function, the lack of measurable decline in cognitive function in both patient groups for 2 years limits the opportunity for glatiramer to demonstrate a therapeutic effect by minimizing such decline. Emerging treatments for MS should continue to be examined for their effect on cognitive impairment because it can be a critical determinant of disability. A greater understanding of the natural history of cognitive decline in MS is essential for a rational design of these drug trials. Arch Neurol. 1999;56:319-324 From the Departments of Neurology (Drs Weinstein, Schwid, Schiffer, McDermott, and Goodman), Psychiatry (Drs Weinstein and Schiffer), Environmental Medicine (Dr Schiffer), and Biostatistics (Dr McDermott), University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY; and the Department of Neurology, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, Calif (Dr Giang). ADOUBLE-BLIND, placebocontrolled, multicenter phase III trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of treatment with glatiramer acetate (Copaxone; Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Petah Tiqva, Israel), formerly called copolymer 1, for patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) was recently completed. 1 Results indicate that glatiramer therapy reduces the MS relapse rate by 29% over 2 years. A trend toward increasing the time to first relapse was also demonstrated, with a median time to relapse of 287 days for patients treated with glatiramer compared with 198 days for patients treated with placebo. More patients treated with glatiramer improved neurologically and fewer worsened on the Expanded Disability Status Scale 2 compared with patients treated with placebo. We report the effect of glatiramer therapy on cognitive function in the same patients. Results of numerous neuropsychologic studies 3-8 demonstrate that up to 65% of patients with MS show impairment in cognitive function during their illness. The most frequently occurring changes in cognitive function are found in measures of recent memory, 7,9-15 sustained attention and speed of cognitive processing, 9,16-18 semantic retrieval, 9,19,20 conceptual/abstract reasoning, 3,6,21,22 andvisuospatialperception. 9,15,19,20,23 Immediateandremotememoryandlanguage skills are the least-disrupted aspects of cognitive functioning. Cognitive changes in MS are not necessarily associated with changes in measures of physical impairment 24 or disease duration. 25,26 For example, results of numerous studies 4,27,28 demonstrate that memory impairment may be observed early in the disease process in the presence of minimal physical disability. Traditional measures of overall neurologic impairment in MS, such as the Expanded Disability Status Scale, are insensitive to the presence of cognitive defi- 319

PATIENTS AND METHODS STUDY DESIGN A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter phase 3 trial studying the effects of glatiramer therapy on MS was conducted at 11 centers in the United States. Two hundred fifty-one patients with relapsing-remitting MS were randomly assigned to receive a regimen of daily subcutaneous injections of glatiramer acetate, 20 mg, or matching placebo and were followed up systematically for 2 years. The primary results of this trial have been published previously. 1 Effects on neuropsychologic outcomes from this study are presented. PATIENTS Patients aged 18 to 45 years with clinically definite MS or laboratory-supported MS who had at least 2 relapses in the 2 years before entry into the study were included. All patients had mild to moderate disability at baseline as defined by an Expanded Disability Status Scale score between 0 and 5.0. As reported previously, the distributions of age, sex, race, duration of disease, mean relapse rate in the previous 2 years, and Expanded Disability Status Scale score were similar in the treatment groups at baseline (Table 1). Nineteen patients (15.2%) withdrew from the glatiramer-treated group and 17 patients (13.5%) withdrew from the placebo-treated group. 1 PROCEDURE Neuropsychologic tests were administered to all patients by trained research coordinators at each of the 11 study sites. Neuropsychologic testing occurred at a screening visit within 1 month before drug initiation and after 12 and 24 months of masked treatment. Tests were presented in the same order at each visit to standardize possible effects of fatigue, with alternate forms used to minimize practice effects. NEUROPSYCHOLOGIC EVALUATION The Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Tests was chosen as the measure of cognitive functioning. This battery was developed by the Cognitive Functions Study Group of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society specifically for use in clinical trials of potential MS treatments, with tests chosen because they are sensitive to neuropsychologic deficits common in patients with MS. 34-36 The Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Tests requires 20 minutes to administer and can be presented by nonpsychologists after training. It consists of 5 tests, including measures of sustained attention and concentration (Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test and Symbol Digit Modalities Test), verbal learning and delayed recall (Buschke Selective Reminding Test), visuospatial learning and delayed recall (10/36 Spatial Recall Test), and semantic retrieval (Word List Generation Test). Buschke Selective Reminding Test The version of the Selective Reminding Test 37,38 chosen for this study is a 6-trial verbal list learning test 39 designed to measure verbal learning and recall from memory over time. The procedure involves reading the patient a list of 12 words and having the patient recall as many words as possible in any order. In each of the following learning trials, only words not recalled on the preceding trial are presented. The patient is then instructed to continue to recall all words from the list, including those not repeated. After 6 list presentations, delayed recall is tested after an 11-minute delay. Scores are based on consistent long-term retrieval, the number of words recalled consistently on all subsequent trials without reminding; delayed recall, the number of items recalled from the complete list after an 11-minute delay; and long-term storage, the sum of words recalled after 6 repeated trials. cits and to changes in cognition over time. 3 In fact, the natural history of cognitive changes in MS is largely unknown. Cognitive impairment in MS may have a negative impact on vocational and social roles beyond that related to physical disability. 29 Despite equivalent physical disability, patients with MS with cognitive impairment have lower rates of employment, greater withdrawal from social activities, and more extensive need for personal assistance at home because of greater difficulty performing routine household tasks than patients without cognitive impairment. 4,30 Activities of daily living and quality of life are more impaired than predicted by physical disability alone. 8,26,31 Two previous studies 32,33 attempted to determine the effects of drug treatment on neuropsychologic deficits in patients with MS. Pliskin et al 32 examined neuropsychologic function in a randomized trial involving 30 patients with MS after 2 and 4 years of high- or low-dose treatment with interferon beta-1b or placebo. Although there was significant improvement in delayed visual memory between years 2 and 4 of the trial in patients receiving high-dose interferon beta-1b relative to nonsignificant changes in the placebo group, the results are difficult to interpret because baseline assessments were not performed, the sample size was small, and only 1 of several tests performed showed any effect of treatment. Smits et al 33 examined neuropsychologic function in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design clinical trial of patients with MS treated with 4-aminopyridine, a potassium channel blocker with the potential to improve conduction through demyelinated pathways. No effect of treatment was detected, but only 20 patients were included, with treatment for only 2 weeks, providing limited power to detect modest effects. Interpretation of this study was also complicated by the use of a crossover design without a washout period. The present investigation is the first large-scale study to determine whether a treatment used to alter the course of MS affects cognitive function. We postulated that cognitive function would measurably decline during the trial and that treatment with glatiramer might minimize that decline. 320

10/36 Spatial Recall Test The 10/36 Spatial Recall Test, a more cognitively demanding version of the 7/24 test, 7,40 assesses visuospatial learning and delayed recall. In the 10/36 test, patients are presented a random pattern of 10 circles displayed on a 6 6 checkerboard for 10 seconds. They must then remember and reproduce that display by placing checkers on a blank checkerboard. This process is repeated for 3 learning trials, with an additional recall after a 7-minute delay. Scores are the total number of correct immediate recall responses across the 3 trials and delayed recall. Symbol Digit Modalities Test The Symbol Digit Modalities Test is designed to measure perceptual processing and attention. The patient is presented a form with a symbol/digit key containing 9 different symbols in the upper boxes paired with numbers (1-9) in the lower boxes. Beneath the key, patients are presented only the symbols, to which they must match the numbers indicated in the key. The patient has 90 seconds to match as many digit/ symbol pairs as possible. Scores are the number of correct responses in 90 seconds. Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test The Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test 30,41 measures information processing speed and sustained attention. This serial addition task requires the patient to listen to a series of singledigit numbers presented on a prerecorded tape, 61 numbers total. Number presentation occurs at a rate of 1 number every 3 seconds. The patient is instructed to add the first 2 numbers, to report the answer, and then to add the following number to the previous number (ie, sum the 2 numbers spoken in a row). In the second part of the task, numbers are presented more rapidly, at the rate of 1 number every 2 seconds, increasing information processing demands. For both conditions, practice items are administered before formal test initiation to ensure that patients are familiar with and able to successfully perform task demands. Scores are the number of correct responses for each test condition, with a maximum of 60 correct answers at each presentation rate (2 seconds and 3 seconds). Word List Generation Test This test measures semantic retrieval and production. The patient is asked to produce, within 60 seconds, as many words as possible beginning with a specified letter, excluding proper names, numbers, and multiple forms of a word. Scores are the sum of admissible responses across 3 trials. STATISTICAL ANALYSES Of 251 randomized patients, 248 agreed to participate in the neuropsychologic testing protocol. Primary statistical analyses were performed according to the intention-totreat principle and included all 248 patients. The lastobservation-carried-forward imputation strategy was used for missing data. Secondary analyses were performed that included only patients having the response variable of interest at all 3 visits (baseline, 12 months, and 24 months). Results did not differ between the 2 analyses; therefore, only results of the intention-to-treat analyses are reported. Repeated-measures analysis of covariance models were used to compare the placebo and glatiramer groups with regardtomeanneuropsychologictestscoresat12and24months. Separate analyses were performed for each neuropsychologic test. The models included treatment group, center, baseline neuropsychologic test score as a between-patient factor, and time as a within-patient factor. F tests were performed for significance of treatment effects, and 95% confidence intervals for these effects were computed using these models. In addition, F tests were performed for within-patient differences in mean performance over time in the combined cohort. Finally, exploratory analyses were performed to examine possible interactionsbetweentreatmentand(1) timeand(2) baselineneuropsychologic test scores, ie, to determine whether the effects of glatiramer therapy depended on either time or the severity of cognitive impairment at baseline. RESULTS BASELINE NEUROPSYCHOLOGIC TEST RESULTS At baseline testing, neuropsychologic test performance was similar in both treatment groups (Table 2). Mean scores were lower than established norms 42-44 but not greater then 2 SDs below the mean and therefore were considered to be within the range of normal performance. The exception was Word List Generation Test scores, which showed impairment ( 2 SDs below the mean) in both treatment groups (Table 2). 45 RESPONSE TO TREATMENT Mean neuropsychologic test scores were improved at 12 and 24 months compared with baseline for the placebo and glatiramer groups (Table 2). The improvement over time was statistically significant (P.002) for the consistent long-term retrieval, delayed recall, and long-term storage components of the Buschke Selective Reminding Test; the 10/36 Spatial Recall Test; and the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test. The Symbol Digit Modalities Test (P =.04) and the Word List Generation Test (P =.08) showed trends toward improvement over time. Table 3 presents the estimated treatment effects and associated 95% confidence intervals. No differences were detected between the treatment groups for any of the neuropsychologic test results. No significant interactions were detected between the effects of treatment and either time or baseline level of impairment. COMMENT Thisisthefirstlarge-scalestudytodeterminewhetheratreatment used to alter the course of MS affects cognitive function. Despite clear evidence of improvement in other measures of disease activity, such as relapse rate and neurologic disability, we found no effect of glatiramer therapy on the course of cognitive impairment in relapsing-remitting MS. 321

Neurologic and cognitive deficits are not strongly associated with each other in patients with MS, and outcome measures for these features have different degrees of sensitivity for impairment and therapeutic effects. Thus, it is possible that use of glatiramer truly had an effect on neurologic function but not on cognitive function, but the data do not support definitive conclusions. First, without a measurable decline in cognitive function in patients treated with placebo, there was no opportunity for glatiramer to demonstrate a therapeutic effect by minimizing that decline. Instead, both groups demonstrated improvement over time, with significant changes on measures of memory and attention. Although alternate test forms were used in an attempt to Table 1. Baseline Demographic Characteristics* Characteristic Glatiramer (n = 125) Treatment Placebo (n = 126) Age, y 34.6 ± 6.0 34.3 ± 6.5 Sex Women 88 (70.4) 96 (76.2) Men 37 (29.6) 30 (23.8) Race White 118 (94.4) 118 (93.6) Other 7 (5.6) 8 (6.3) Previous 2-y relapse rate 2.9 ± 1.3 2.9 ± 1.1 EDSS score 2.8 ± 1.2 2.4 ± 1.3 Ambulation Index 1.2 ± 1.0 1.1 ± 0.9 Duration of MS, y 7.3 ± 4.9 6.6 ± 5.1 *EDSS indicates Expanded Disability Status Scale; MS, multiple sclerosis. Values are expressed as either mean ± SD or number (percentage). minimize practice effects, procedural learning, familiarity, and comfort with the testing procedure may explain improved performance. Also, a beneficial effect from the extra care, attention, and supportive social contact incurred during this study may have improved the overall performance in both groups. Second, patients were generally unimpaired at baseline in terms of overall cognitive performance. It could be that the effects of glatiramer administration are apparent only in patients who have a certain degree of initial baseline impairment. Our analyses of the interaction between treatment and baseline status did not reveal a dependence of the effect of glatiramer therapy on baseline performance. The subgroup of patients with impaired performance at baseline, however, was relatively small, thus limiting the power to detect differential treatment effects. Third, it could be that the effects of glatiramer therapy are not discernible during 24 months with this testing battery in this patient population. Little is known about the natural history of cognitive changes in MS. Only a few longitudinal investigations have been undertaken to address this question. Findings have been mixed, with some results showing cognitive decline and others showing no progressive worsening. Mariani et al 46 followed up 19 patients with relapsing-remitting MS for 2 years and found no progressive worsening of cognitive function and no association between cognitive and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) changes. Another study by Amato et al, 47 following up patients with relapsing-remitting MS for 4 years, did not show worsening on measures of verbal memory and abstract reasoning measures beyond the initial baseline deficits. By the end of the study, however, new semantic retrieval deficits emerged. Table 2. Cognitive Test Results by Treatment Group and Visit* Test Treatment Group Visit Baseline 12 mo 24 mo Reference Value 10/36 Spatial Recall Immediate recall Glatiramer 20.43 ± 4.90 22.11 ± 5.04 22.57 ± 5.53... Placebo 19.85 ± 4.50 21.19 ± 5.74 22.60 ± 5.49... Delayed recall Glatiramer 7.32 ± 2.13 7.69 ± 2.32 7.80 ± 2.48... Placebo 7.11 ± 2.16 7.21 ± 2.54 7.94 ± 2.34... Paced Auditory Serial Addition 3 s Glatiramer 46.63 ± 10.20 48.44 ± 10.33 49.45 ± 11.25 50.4 ± 9.7 42 Placebo 45.10 ± 10.49 47.88 ± 10.40 48.18 ± 10.85... 2 s Glatiramer 35.79 ± 11.31 38.98 ± 10.70 40.17 ± 12.81 41.9 ± 10.2 42 Placebo 35.68 ± 10.15 38.26 ± 10.66 38.67 ± 10.89... Symbol Digit Modalities Glatiramer 51.73 ± 13.45 52.42 ± 13.04 53.78 ± 14.60 59.7 ± 9.7 43 Placebo 52.28 ± 13.00 54.18 ± 13.65 53.52 ± 13.62... Word List Generation Glatiramer 30.29 ± 10.50 31.07 ± 10.10 31.53 ± 10.12 50.2 ± 6.4 45 Placebo 30.40 ± 8.71 30.67 ± 9.60 31.58 ± 9.98... Buschke Selective Reminding Consistent long-term retrieval Glatiramer 34.97 ± 15.0 39.57 ± 14.29 36.59 ± 16.14 37.9 ± 18.6 44 Placebo 34.70 ± 15.57 40.65 ± 16.62 38.57 ± 15.56... Delayed recall Glatiramer 8.46 ± 2.78 9.02 ± 2.83 8.28 ± 3.01... Placebo 8.46 ± 2.62 9.08 ± 2.78 8.89 ± 2.74... Long-term storage Glatiramer 45.97 ± 13.82 49.64 ± 12.30 47.07 ± 13.47 51.8 ± 10.3 44 Placebo 46.18 ± 13.57 50.44 ± 13.44 48.75 ± 13.41... *Values are given as mean ± SD. No differences were detected between the glatiramer and placebo groups on any of the neuropsychological tests. Mean scores improved over time on all tests. Average performance in healthy adults. Ellipses indicate not established. 322

Table 3. Effects of Glatiramer Treatment on Neuropsychologic Test Scores* Test Treatment Effect (95% Confidence Interval) P 10/36 Spatial Recall Immediate recall 0.15 ( 0.82 to 1.11).77 Delayed recall 0.08 ( 0.35 to 0.50).73 Paced Auditory Serial Addition 3 s 0.32 ( 1.74 to 1.10).66 2 s 1.17 ( 0.39 to 2.74).14 Symbol Digit Modalities 0.52 ( 2.50 to 1.45).60 Word List Generation 0.17 ( 1.28 to 1.63).81 Buschke Selective Reminding Consistent long-term retrieval 1.77 ( 4.36 to 0.81).18 Delayed recall 0.32 ( 0.78 to 0.13).16 Long-term storage 1.17 ( 3.50 to 1.15).32 *Treatment effects are estimated from repeated-measures analysis of variance models, which include treatment group, center, and baseline value of the neuropsychologic test of interest. See the text for details. Positive values indicate a beneficial effect of glatiramer acetate treatment relative to placebo treatment. Measurable cognitive deterioration over time was found in patients with a different MS disease course (formally known as chronic-progressive MS) when followed up from initial diagnosis for 4.5 years. 48 Feinstein et al 49 further studied cognitive and MRI changes in 5 patients with relapsing-remitting MS and 5 patients with long-term benign MS for 6 months and found 3 patients with increased MRI lesions, 2 of whom showed cognitive decline. Variable findings among these studies may be caused by differences in MS disease classification, length of followup, level of baseline impairment, and choice of cognitive test measures. The recent study by Hohol et al 50 of 44 patients with MS (relapsing-remitting, relapsingremitting-progressive, and chronic-progressive primary and secondary) attempted to account for some of these variables by studying the relationship between cognitive dysfunction and disease burden as measured by MRI for 1 year. The neuropsychologic test battery used in that study was the same battery used in our 2-year longitudinal investigation with glatiramer therapy. Their findings showed a similar pattern of long-term cognitive change, that is, during 1 year, cognitive performance did not worsen. Instead, verbal and nonverbal memory showed minor but significant improvement. They were able to show an association at 1 year between measures of attention of processing speed and MRI lesion burden, and the 4 patients who had cognitive worsening showed significant MRI changes. It is possible that changes in the study design of clinical trials in MS might allow us to observe otherwise undetectable cognitive change, allowing clearer interpretation of treatment effects. Design features that could be altered include selection of patients with greater cognitive impairment at baseline, a longer treatment interval to allow a measurable decline to occur, inclusion of level of education to ensure no academic differences between groups, and choosing neuropsychologic tests that are more sensitive to within-patient longitudinal changes. Despite the inconclusive results of this trial, emerging treatments for MS should continue to be examined for their effect on cognitive impairment because it can be a critical determinant of disability. Greater understanding of the natural history of cognitive decline in MS would be invaluable in the rational design of these trials. Accepted for publication July 10, 1998. This study was supported by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, Petah Tiqva, Israel. Presented in part at the annual meeting of the American Neurological Association, San Diego, Calif, September 30, 1997, and the International Neuropsychological Society Meeting, Honolulu, Hawaii, February 5, 1998. The following investigators participated at the 11 sites involved in this study: K. P. Johnson, MD, and H. S. Panitch, MD (University of Maryland, Baltimore); B. R. Brooks, MD (University of Wisconsin, Madison); J. A. Cohen, MD (University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia); C. C. Ford, MD (University of New Mexico, Albuquerque); J. Goldstein, MD, and T. Vollmer, MD (Yale University, New Haven, Conn); R. P. Lisak, MD (Wayne State University, Detroit, Mich); L. W. Myers, MD (University of California, Los Angeles); J. W. Rose, MD (University of Utah and the Veterans Administration Medical Center, Salt Lake City); R. B. Schiffer (University of Rochester, Rochester, NY); L. P. Weiner, MD (University of Southern California, Los Angeles); and J. S. Wolinsky, MD (University of Texas, Houston). Reprints: Amy Weinstein, PhD, Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, PO Box 605, 601 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, NY 14642 (e-mail: aweinstein@mail.neurology.rochester.edu). REFERENCES 1. Johnson KP, Brooks BR, Cohen JA, et al. Copolymer 1 reduces relapse rate and improves disability in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: results of a phase III multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Neurology. 1995;45:1268-1276. 2. Kurtzke JF. Rating neurologic impairment in multiple sclerosis: an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). Neurology. 1983;33:1444-1452. 3. Heaton RK, Nelson LM, Thompson DS, Burks JS, Franklin GM. Neuropsychological findings in relapsing-remitting and chronic progressive multiple sclerosis. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1985;53:103-110. 4. Lyon-Caen O, Jouvert R, Hauser S, et al. Cognitive function in recent onset demyelinating diseases. Arch Neurol. 1986;43:1138-1141. 5. Parsons OA, Stewart KD, Arenberg D. Impairment of abstracting ability in multiple sclerosis. J Nerv Ment Dis. 1957;125:221-225. 6. Peyser JM, Edwards KR, Poser CM, Filskov SB. Cognitive function in patients with multiple sclerosis. Arch Neurol. 1980;37:577-579. 7. Rao SM, Hammeke TA, McQuillen MP, Khatri BO, Loyd D. Memory disturbance in chronic progressive multiple sclerosis. Arch Neurol. 1984;41:625-631. 8. Staples D, Lincoln NB. Intellectual impairment in multiple sclerosis and its relation to functional abilities. Rheumatol Rehab. 1979;18:153-160. 9. Beatty WW, Goodkin DE, Monson N, Beatty PA, Hertsgaard D. Anterograde and retrograde amnesia in patients with chronic progressive multiple sclerosis. Arch Neurol. 1988;45:611-619. 10. Carroll M, Gates R, Roldan F. Memory impairment in multiple sclerosis. Neuropsychologia. 1984;22:297-302. 11. Fisher JS. Using the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised to detect and characterize memory deficits in multiple sclerosis. Clin Neuropsychol. 1988;2:149-172. 12. Grant I, McDonald WI, Trimble MR, Smith E, Reed R. Deficient learning and memory in early and middle phases of multiple sclerosis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1984;47:250-255. 13. Litvan I, Graftnan J, Vendrell P, et al. Multiple memory deficits in patients with multiple sclerosis: exploring the working memory system. Arch Neurol. 1988; 45:607-610. 323

14. Minden SL, Moes EJ, Orav J, Kaplan E, Reich P. Memory impairment in multiple sclerosis. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol. 1990;12:566-586. 15. Rao SM, Leo GJ, St. Aubin-Faubert P. On the nature of memory disturbance in multiple sclerosis. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol. 1989;11:699-712. 16. Beatty WW, Goodkin DE, Monson N, Beatty PA. Cognitive disturbances in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Arch Neurol. 1989;46:1113-1119. 17. Litvan I, Graftnan J, Vendrell P, Martinez JM. Slowed information processing in multiple sclerosis. Arch Neurol. 1988;45:281-285. 18. Rao SM, St. Aubin-Faubert P, Leo GJ. Information processing speed in patients with multiple sclerosis. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol. 1989;11:471-477. 19. Caine ED, Bamford KA, Schiffer RB, Shoulson I, Levy S. A controlled neuropsychological comparison of Huntington s disease and multiple sclerosis. Arch Neurol. 1986;43:249-254. 20. Huber SJ, Paulson GW, Shuttleworth EC, et al. Magnetic resonance imaging correlates of dementia in multiple sclerosis. Arch Neurol. 1987;44:732-736. 21. Rao SM, Hammeke TA, Speech TJ. Wisconsin Card Sorting Test performance in relapsing-remitting and chronic-progressive multiple sclerosis. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1987;55:263-265. 22. Rao SM, Hammeke TA. Hypothesis testing in patients with chronic progressive multiple sclerosis. Brain Cogn. 1984;3:94-104. 23. Rao SM, Leo GJ, Bernardin L, Unverzagt F. Cognitive dysfunction in multiple sclerosis, I: frequency, patterns, and prediction. Neurology. 1991;41:685-691. 24. Ron MA, Callanan MM, Warrington EK. Cognitive abnormalities in multiple sclerosis: a psychometric and MRI study. Psychol Med. 1991;21:59-68. 25. Ivnik RJ. Neuropsychological test performance as a function of the duration of MS related symptomatology. J Clin Psychiatry. 1978;39:304-312. 26. Marsh GG. Disability and intellectual function in multiple sclerosis patients. J Nerv Ment Dis. 1980;168:758-762. 27. Van den Burg W, Van Zomeren AH, Minderhoud JM, Prange M, Meijer NS. Cognitive impairment in patients with multiple sclerosis and mild physical disability. Arch Neurol. 1987;44:494-501. 28. Young AC, Saunders J, Ponsford JR. Mental change as an early feature of multiple sclerosis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1976;39:1008-1013. 29. Rao SM, Leo GJ, Ellington L, Nauertz T, Bernardin L, Unverzagt F. Cognitive dysfunction in multiple sclerosis, II: impact on employment and social functioning. Neurology. 1991;41:692-696. 30. Gronwall D. Paced auditory serial-addition task: a measure of recovery from concussion. Percept Mot Skills. 1977;44:367-373. 31. Franklin GM, Nelson LM, Filley CM, Heaton RK. Cognitive loss in multiple sclerosis: case reports and review of the literature. Arch Neurol. 1989;46:162-167. 32. Pliskin NH, Hamer DP, Goldstein DS, et al. Improved delayed visual reproduction test performance in MS patients receiving interferon beta-1b. Neurology. 1996;47:1463-1468. 33. Smits RC, Emmen HH, Bertelsmann FW, Kulig BM, Van Loenen AC, Polman CH. The effects of 4-aminopyridine on cognitive function in patients with multiple sclerosis: a pilot study. Neurology. 1994;44:1701-1705. 34. Peyser JM, Poser CM. Neuropsychological correlates of multiple sclerosis. In: Filskov SB, Boll TJ, eds. Handbook of Clinical Neuropsychology. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons Inc; 1986:364-397. 35. Peyser JM, Rao SM, LaRocca NG, Kaplan E. Guidelines for neuropsychological research in multiple sclerosis. Arch Neurol. 1990;47:94-97. 36. Rao SM. Neuropsychology of multiple sclerosis: a critical review. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol. 1986;8:503-542. 37. Buschke H. Selective reminding for analysis of memory and learning. J Verbal Learn Verbal Behav. 1973;12:543-550. 38. Buschke H, Fuld PA. Evaluating storage, retention, and retrieval in disordered memory and learning. Neurology. 1974;24:1019-1025. 39. Kraemer HC, Peabody CA, Tinklenberg JR, Yesavage J. Mathematical and empirical development of a test of memory for clinical and research use. Psychol Bull. 1983;94:367-380. 40. Barbizet J, Cany E. Clinical and psychometrical study of a patient with memory disturbances. Int J Neurol. 1968;7:44-54. 41. Gronwall D, Wrightson P. Recovery after minor head injury. Lancet. 1974;2: 1452-1455. 42. Stuss DT, Stethem LL, Pelchat G. Three tests of attention and rapid information processing: an extension. Clin Neuropsychol. 1988;2:246-250. 43. Lezak MD. Neuropsychological Assessment. 3rd ed. New York, NY: Oxford University Press Inc; 1995:380. 44. Rao SM. Cognitive Function Study Group, National Multiple Sclerosis Society. A Manual for the Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Tests in Multiple Sclerosis. New York, NY: National Multiple Sclerosis Society; 1990. 45. Benton AL, Hamsher K. Multilingual Aphasia Examination. Iowa City, Iowa: MA Associates; 1997. 46. Mariani C, Farina E, Cappa SF, Mattioli F, Vignolo LA. Neuropsychological assessment in multiple sclerosis: a follow-up study with magnetic resonance imaging. J Neurol. 1991;238:395-400. 47. Amato MP, Ponziani G, Pracucci G, Bracco L, Siracusa G, Alnaducci L. Cognitive impairment in early-onset multiple sclerosis: pattern, predictors, and impact on everyday life in a 4-year follow-up. Arch Neurol. 1995;52:168-172. 48. Feinstein A, Youl B, Ron M. Acute optic neuritis: a cognitive and magnetic resonance imaging study. Brain. 1992;115:1403-1415. 49. Feinstein A, Ron M, Thompson A. A serial study of psychometric and magnetic resonance imaging changes in multiple sclerosis. Brain. 1993;116:569-602. 50. Hohol MJ, Guttman CR, Orav J, et al. Serial neuropsychological assessment and magnetic resonance imaging analysis in multiple sclerosis. Arch Neurol. 1997; 54:1018-1025. 324

and CCK B receptor polymorphisms with alcohol dependence. Psychiatry Res. 2001; 102:1-7. 15. Bower JH, Maraganore DM, McDonnell SK, Rocca WA. Incidence and distribution of parkinsonism in Olmsted County, Minnesota, 1976-1990. Neurology. 1999; 52:1214-1220. 16. Van Den Eeden SK, Tanner CM, Bernstein AL, et al. Incidence of Parkinson s disease. Am J Epidemiol. 2003;157:1015-1022. 17. Fernandez HH, Lapane KL, Ott BR, et al. Gender differences in the frequency and treatment of behavior problems in Parkinson s disease. Mov Disord. 2000; 15:490-496. 18. Harada S, Okubo T, Tsutsumi M, Takase S, Muramatsu T. A new genetic variant in the Sp1 binding cis-element of cholecystokinin gene promoter region and relationship to alcoholism. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 1998;22(suppl):93S-96S. 19. Goetz CG, Leurgans S, Pappert EJ, et al. Prospective longitudinal assessment of hallucinations in Parkinson s disease. Neurology. 2001;57:2078-2082. 20. Aarsland D, Larsen JP, Lim NG, et al. Range of neuropsychiatric disturbances in patients with Parkinson s disease. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1999;67: 492-496. 21. Studler JM, Javoy-Agid F, Cesselin F, et al. CCK-8 immunoreactivity distribution in human brain. Brain Res. 1982;243:176-179. 22. Hansen TVO. Cholecystokinin gene transcription: promoter elements, transcription factors and signaling pathways. Peptides. 2001;22:1201-1211. 23. Tachikawa H, Harada S, Kawanishi Y, et al. Novel polymorphisms of the human cholecystokinin A receptor gene. Am J Med Genet. 2000;96:141-145. 24. Okubo T, Harada S. Polymorphisms of the CCK, CCKAR, and CCKBR genes: an association with alcoholism study. J Stud Alcohol. 2001;62:413-421. 25. Wang Z, Valdes J, Noyes R, et al. Possible association of a cholecystokinin promoter polymorphism (CCK-36CT) with panic disorder. Am J Med Genet. 1998; 81:228-234. 26. Bowen T, Norton N, Jacobsen NJO, et al. Linked polymorphisms upstream of exon 1 and exon 2 of the human cholecystokinin gene are not associated with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Mol Psychiatry. 1998;3:67-71. Correction Error in Author Name. In the article titled Neuropsychologic Status in Multiple Sclerosis After Treatment With Glatiramer, published in the March issue of the ARCHIVES (1999;56:319-324), the author names should have appeared as follows: Amy Weinstein, PhD; Steven R. Schwid, MD; Randolph B. Schiffer, MD; Michael P. McDermott, PhD; Daniel W. Giang, MD; Andrew D. Goodman, MD. The ARCHIVES regret the error. (REPRINTED) ARCH NEUROL / VOL 61, AUG 2004 1284 WWW.ARCHNEUROL.COM 2004 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.